The Peshwa was the prime Minister appointed by the Maratha kings. The Peshwas were entitled to look after the administrative and the military affairs of the Maratha state. Even the foreign relations other Maratha state were determined by the Peshwa. After Shivaji none of the Maratha rulers could prove their efficiency. Henceforth after Shivaji, the Maratha power was entirely controlled by the Peshwas. However the Maratha confederacy made a great progress under the Peshwaship of Balaji Biswanath, and Baji Rao I.

Balaji Biswanath - Balaji Biswanath was the first Peshwa of the Maratha confederacy. He made the office of Peshwa hereditary. He was a shrewd diplomat apart from being a military general and under him the Maratha from a microscopic minority, rose into great power.

Baji Rao I- Baji Rao I was the son of Balaji Biswanath. He was also a military general and a diplomat like his father. He liberated the revenue provinces of the Maratha power the Mughal supremacy ands also extended the Maratha supremacy in the Deccan. Under Baji Rao I, Gujrat, Malwa, the territory of Bundelkhand came under Maratha supremacy.